Depression Counseling

IS DEPRESSION COUNSELING FOR YOU?

Do you have symptoms of depression?

Are you feeling sad, helpless, hopeless, irritable or angry all the time? Do you find that you’re not sleeping well or sleeping way too much? Do you feel guilty more often or feel lower self-esteem? Do find yourself secretly saying to yourself, “I’m not worth it, everything with me always goes wrong, or things would be better off if I just was not around.” Are you isolating yourself or crying more often than usual? Or maybe you lack motivation or the interest to do things you use to find enjoyable. You might be experiencing physical symptoms including changes in appetite and weight, slower muscle movements, sexual problems and fatigue. Have these changes been going on for more than 2 weeks?

IF THIS IS THE CASE, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS JUST LIKE YOU.

You may have something in common with many people. In 2014, an estimated 15.7 million adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. That is 6.7% of all U.S. adults.1 Today as many as 3 out of 5 adults will experience depression in their lifetime.2

THE GOOD NEWS

There is very likely an effective depression treatment for you. In fact, the National Institute on Health (NIH) reported that “up to 80% of those treated for depression show an improvement in their symptoms generally within four to six weeks of beginning medication, psychotherapy, attending support groups or a combination of these treatments.”3 If you have signs of depression the earlier you treat them, the earlier you can recover.

“Despite its high treatment success rate, nearly two out of three people suffering with depression do not actively seek nor receive proper treatment.”4

If you’re wondering what depression is or what types of depression exist, then an experienced therapist can help you identify the causes of depression and help you significantly reduce guilt, shame, hopelessness, low self-esteem, seasonal affective disorder, manic depression, loneliness, isolation and most depression feelings, even suicidal thoughts and suicidal tendencies.

Many factors can play a role in Depression

“Genetics, brain biology and chemistry, and life events such as trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, an early childhood experience, or any stressful situation.

Depression can happen at any age, but often begins in the teens or early 20s or 30s. Most chronic mood and anxiety disorders in adults begin as high levels of anxiety in children. In fact, high levels of anxiety as a child could mean a higher risk of depression as an adult.

Depression can co-occur with other serious medical illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Depression can make these conditions worse and vice versa. Sometimes medications taken for these illnesses may cause side effects that contribute to depression. A doctor experienced in treating these complicated illnesses can help work out the best treatment strategy.”5

YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF:

“I’m so exhausted, is it really worth my energy to go to counseling?”

Well, that depends on how tired you are of feeling like you do. Is it bad enough to talk to a stranger about your situation? Is it worth the output of energy and money? If how you feel is close to the feelings described at the top of this page, you may really benefit from depression counseling. If you want to go back to feeling like you used to feel, having energy, goals, feeling motivated, getting appropriate sleep, feeling more hopeful about things and losing the irritability and anger, then you have a 80% chance of improvement over not participating in depression treatment.

“Right now I’m in such a bad place, I’m embarrassed to talk to someone about it.”

Talking to a professional can be very intimidating. However, professionals treat many people with similar symptoms as you. They are experts at connecting with you, making an assessment of your situation, and developing a plan for treatment with you. If you are embarrassed, know that you are not alone. Many people are in your situation and can significantly benefit from talking with a counselor and seeing their doctor. Most people wish they sought help sooner so the emotional pain would have ended sooner.

“I hear counseling is expensive, is it worth the money?”

Deductibles and co-pays can be high. However, most insurances cover most of the cost of counseling. If that’s not the case in your situation, you can probably work out a reasonable financial agreement with a therapist before starting treatment. Many therapists, including Victor Counseling Practice, will make arrangements that work for the client and the therapist. Even if you have to pay the full amount, with an 80% success rate, it will probably cost less than the missed work, low-energy parenting, broken relationships and unplanned spending and other behaviors that often accompany untreated depression.

PROFESSIONAL TESTIMONY:

How do you know that counseling will really work for you? There are many good therapists. Unfortunately, at the present time (September, 2016) there are very few counselors in Victor, NY who take insurances. Victor Counseling Practice in Victor, NY accepts most insurances that makes counseling affordable. In addition, Jeff Young, LCSW-R has a long track record of providing effective counseling. This is a recent professional testimony:

“I have been referring patients to Jeff Young for more than a decade. He is professional, caring, and insightful. Patients comment back to me how much their time with Jeff has been both helpful and healing. He is a gifted therapist!”

– Michael Brennan, Nurse Practitioner (August, 2016)

VICTOR COUNSELING PRACTICE IN VICTOR, NY

We have convenient hours, starting at 7 AM Monday through Thursday for those who need appointments before work or after a night shift, and as late as 8 PM on Monday and Wednesdays for those who need appointments after work.

We accept most insurances and will work with people who have financial hardship.

Jeff has over 20 experience with depression counseling and treating many types of depression.

We are located in an under-served area in Victor, NY.

Many clients at the last session report their experience: “I felt listened to and understood, I was able to gains useful skills to deal with my depression, I wish I came earlier.”

NEXT STEPS TO HEALING:

Call your Primary Care Physician for a consultation.

Research your options for counseling in your area.

Call/Text Victor Counseling Services in Victor, NY at 585-444-1808 for a consult or an appointment.

REFERENCES:

1www.nimh.nih.gov. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

2https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression. ADAA, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders through education, practice, and research.